Improvement in self-closing telegraph-keys



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEREMlAH F. OSULLIVAN AND PHILIP W. OSULLIVAN, OF JACKSON, MISS.

IMPROVEMENT IIN SELF-CLOSING TELEGRAPH-KEVS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,662, dated November 7, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, JEREMIAII F. OSULLI- VAN and PHILIP W. OSULLIvAN, of Jackson, in thecounty of Hinds and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and Improved Self-Closing Telegraph-Key; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a side view, partly in section, of our improved self-closing telegraph-key. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This. invention relates to a new telegraph-key, which is so constructed that it will hold the circuit constantly closed, and cannot be accidentally left open by careless or inexperienced operators. It consists in the application, to the ordinary key-bar, of a secondary button, lever, and spring, the latter holding the lever in constant contact with the conductor unless it is lifted oft' by pressure on the second button.

A in the drawing represents the ordinary keybar of a telegraph-key. B is the button, secured upon its end in suitable manner. C is a second button, fitted upon a pin or shank, a., which passes through the button B. D is a lever, pivoted at b to the under side of the bar A, and

connected With a spiral or other suitable spring, c, which holds the pin or hammer d at the inner end of the lever D in contact with the anvil c, thereby closing` the circuit.

It will be seen that the instrument can be worked perfectly without grasping the button with thumb and iingers, as many operators do not use the thumb in writing. The improvement can be adapted to all old keys at very little eX- pense, and new keys can, with my attachment, be made as cheap as the old. With this key it will be almost impossible to leave the circuit open through the negligence or want of experience of operators. It is very convenient to experienced operators. Accidents that would open a common key will have no effect on this. The spring, so sensitive to the touch, which closes the circuit, would require a nicely-balanced weight to keep it ,open without bea-ring down the keybar and connect the platina points on hammer and anvil.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The lever D, spring c, and second button G, applied to a telegraph-key, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

J. F. OSULLIVAN. l?. W. OSULLIVAN. Witnesses:

J oHN S. ADAMS,

T. H. DIcKsoN. (50) 

